The Best NBA Draft Picks of All Time
The NBA Draft has produced many of the league’s defining figures, but the best NBA draft picks are the ones who changed the direction of the franchise. Below, we highlight those selections and look at how their impact played out on the court over time.
The list focuses on players whose defining years were spent with the team that drafted them, which is why the best NBA draft picks ever are judged by how much that team benefited on the court.
Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls, 3rd overall in 1984)
Franchise-defining talent Michael Jordan entered Chicago as the third pick in the 1984 NBA Draft and changed the direction of the franchise almost immediately. He won Rookie of the Year in 1985 after averaging 28.2 points per game and was an All-Star by his second season, establishing himself as the centre of the Bulls’ plans. Known early on as His Airness, Jordan gave Chicago clear ambition after years of limited success.
That early impact carried through the rest of his time in Chicago and set the foundation for one of the most dominant stretches any franchise has produced. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s, finishing 6-0 in the Finals and defining one of the most successful runs in league history. Over 13 seasons in Chicago, he collected five regular-season MVP awards, six Finals MVPs, ten scoring titles, and a Defensive Player of the Year award. The Chicago icon averaged 30.1 points per game with the Bulls and remained elite into his mid-30s.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks, 1st overall, 1969)
When the Milwaukee Bucks won a coin flip for the top pick in 1969, the decision that followed reshaped a young franchise almost immediately. Milwaukee selected Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, out of UCLA, and the impact was felt from his first season, as he averaged 28.8 points and 14.5 rebounds while earning Rookie of the Year honours and All-NBA recognition.
That foundation turned into historic success in his second season, when pairing Kareem with Oscar Robertson produced 66 wins and the franchise’s first NBA championship in 1971. Kareem claimed both league MVP and Finals MVP during that run, a rare achievement so early in a career, while his six seasons in Milwaukee saw him win three MVP awards and become the team’s all-time leading scorer. A trade request later ended his time with the Bucks, though the value of the pick had already been fully realized.
Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers, 1st overall, 1979)
The 1979 NBA Draft gave the Los Angeles Lakers the top pick, which they used on Earvin “Magic” Johnson, a 6’9” point guard fresh off an NCAA title at Michigan State. As a rookie, Magic helped the Lakers reach 60 wins and return to the NBA Finals, setting the tone for a new era in Los Angeles. That postseason run peaked in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, when he filled in at centre for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and delivered a performance that sealed the championship, earning him Finals MVP as a rookie.
That very moment became the foundation of a remarkable career spent entirely with the Lakers. Magic led the franchise to five championships, pairing that success with three regular-season MVP awards and three Finals MVP honours. His playmaking defined the Showtime identity and helped reignite the league’s popularity, fuelled by a rivalry with Larry Bird. Although his career ended early, Magic’s consistency carried the Lakers to nine Finals in 12 seasons, securing his place as one of the most influential draft picks in NBA history.
Larry Bird (Boston Celtics, 6th overall, 1978)
When the Boston Celtics used the sixth pick in the 1978 NBA Draft on Larry Bird, they took an unusual step by selecting a player who still had a year of college remaining. Bird joined the team in 1979 and quickly shifted the team’s trajectory, with Boston jumping from 29 wins the previous season to 61 in his rookie year. He averaged 21.3 points and 10.4 rebounds, earning Rookie of the Year honours as the Celtics re-established themselves in their rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers.
That early impact carried through Bird’s entire time in Boston, where he became the central figure of another sustained period of success for the franchise. He led the Celtics to five NBA Finals and three championships, leading a run that restored the team’s place among the league’s elite. Bird won three consecutive MVP awards and added two Finals MVPs, while his consistency kept Boston competitive throughout the 1980s despite injuries later in his career.
Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs, 1st overall, 1997)
The San Antonio Spurs entered the 1997 NBA Draft with the top pick and selected Tim Duncan, a polished big man from Wake Forest. Duncan stepped into the league alongside David Robinson and quickly became the foundation of the team, winning Rookie of the Year in 1998 while averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. By his second season, he was already leading the Spurs to their first NBA championship in 1999, earning Finals MVP and marking the start of a new era in San Antonio.
That early success became the standard for the franchise for nearly two decades. Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the Spurs, who never missed the playoffs during that span and won five championships with him as their central figure. He added multiple MVP honours and stayed central to elite defensive teams, with his ability to contribute well into his late 30s reinforcing the value of the 1997 selection.
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers, 1st overall, 2003)
The Cleveland Cavaliers used the top pick in the 2003 NBA Draft on LeBron James, a local prospect whose arrival carried enormous expectations and immediate responsibility. At 18, he stepped into the league and quickly justified the selection, winning Rookie of the Year in 2004 while becoming the focal point of the franchise. Within four seasons, Cleveland had reached the NBA Finals for the first time, a sharp rise for a team that had rarely been part of the playoff picture.
The long-term value of that pick became clear with LeBron’s return to Cleveland in 2014, which led directly to the franchise’s defining moment. In 2016, he guided the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship, overcoming a 3-1 Finals deficit and earning Finals MVP honours. Across two stints in Cleveland, LeBron won regular-season MVP awards in 2009 and 2010 and provided more than a decade of elite play with results that fully justified the decision made on draft night.
Bill Russell (St. Louis Hawks, 2nd overall, 1956)
Defensive anchor Bill Russell’s draft story is unusual, as he was selected second overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 before the Celtics completed a draft-day trade to bring him to Boston.
Russell joined the Celtics mid-season after winning Olympic gold and made an immediate difference, helping the team secure its first NBA championship in 1957 while recording 32 rebounds in the decisive Game 7 of the Finals.
Russell’s presence reshaped Boston into the league’s most dominant force, with the Celtics winning 11 championships across 13 seasons and setting an unmatched standard for sustained success. His influence centred on defence and rebounding rather than scoring, reflected by a career average of 22.5 rebounds per game and five league MVP awards. Russell’s consistency was equally striking, as Boston reached the Finals in 12 of his 13 seasons and never missed the playoffs, making the decision to acquire him one of the most consequential draft outcomes in NBA history.
Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors, territorial pick, 1959)
Statistical force Wilt Chamberlain’s path into the NBA came through a territorial draft rule, which allowed the Philadelphia Warriors to secure a local star in 1959. Chamberlain arrived from Kansas and delivered an unprecedented rookie season, averaging 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds while winning both Rookie of the Year and MVP honours in 1960. His presence lifted the Warriors from the bottom of the standings into the postseason and established him as a main figure from his first game.
That level of individual impact carried through his years with the Warriors, as Chamberlain continued to overwhelm teams in a manner no player before him had managed. Chamberlain produced scoring and rebounding numbers never approached, highlighted by a 50.4 points-per-game season and a 100-point game in 1962.
Although championships came later in his career, drafting Wilt gave the Warriors instant legitimacy and sustained attention. Over 14 seasons, he combined durability with unmatched output, averaging 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds, leaving a statistical legacy that remains unmatched.
Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando Magic, 1st overall, 1992)
The Orlando Magic were still finding their footing as an expansion franchise when they held the top pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and used it on Shaquille O’Neal, a dominant centre out of LSU who reshaped the team’s outlook from his first season.
O’Neal won Rookie of the Year in 1993 after averaging 23.4 points alongside 13.9 rebounds, while Orlando improved by 20 wins and quickly became relevant in the Eastern Conference. He earned All-NBA honours in his second season and finished as MVP runner-up in 1995, showing how quickly he had become one of the league’s most influential players.
By his third season, O’Neal had led Orlando to its first NBA Finals appearance in 1995, completing a rapid rise from expansion team to contender. Over four seasons, the Magic recorded three winning campaigns and reached the Finals once, with O’Neal remaining durable and productive throughout his time in Orlando. Although his tenure was brief, drafting O’Neal gave the franchise credibility and a foundation that shaped its long-term direction.
Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets, 1st overall, 1984)
Holding the first overall selection in the famously loaded 1984 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets committed to Hakeem Olajuwon, a choice that paid off even in a class filled with future legends. Olajuwon stepped into the league and immediately became a key player for the team, forming a dominant interior presence and helping Houston improve by 19 wins in his rookie season. By his second year, the Rockets had reached the 1986 NBA Finals, signalling that the franchise had found a true cornerstone.
That early promise was fulfilled in the mid-1990s, when Olajuwon carried Houston to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995. During that stretch, he earned league MVP honours, was recognized for his defensive dominance, and helped deliver the first titles in franchise history. Across 17 seasons in Houston, Olajuwon remained consistently dominant, finishing as the Rockets’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals, and leaving behind a championship legacy built directly on that 1984 draft decision.
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 7th overall, 2009)
Few selections demonstrate patience paying off better than Golden State choosing Stephen Curry seventh overall in 2009, a pick that initially carried uncertainty before reshaping the franchise entirely.
Curry’s early seasons showed clear skill but were disrupted by ankle injuries, which were later resolved as he emerged as the central figure in a new offensive identity built around shooting and movement. By the 2014-15 season, he had won his first MVP award and led the Warriors to their first NBA championship in 40 years, firmly establishing Golden State as a contender.
That breakthrough marked the start of a period of success, as the Warriors won four championships during the Curry era and became the league’s defining team of the 2010s. Curry earned a second MVP award in 2016 and later added a Finals MVP in 2022. Across more than a decade, his availability and long-range shooting fundamentally reshaped both the Warriors’ success and the league’s offensive priorities.
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks via Milwaukee Bucks, 9th overall, 1998)
Draft night in 1998 delivered a defining moment for the Dallas Mavericks when Dirk Nowitzki arrived via a trade after being selected ninth overall, a move that initially drew little attention but soon reshaped the franchise. His rookie season involved adjustment, yet steady progress followed, and by his second year, he was a reliable scorer while Dallas began moving back toward relevance.
As his game developed, Nowitzki’s size and shooting touch gave the Mavericks a new offensive direction, allowing the team to build around a frontcourt scorer who could stretch the floor in ways few big men had before. That growth translated into long-term success, with Nowitzki becoming the franchise's clear foundation for more than two decades. He led Dallas to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, earned league MVP honours in 2007, and, while still delivering the franchise’s first championship in 2011, claimed Finals MVP.